By: Reverend Dixie Pole
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 18/05/2018
Label: Independent
In a year choc full of essential releases, Morag
Tong have solidified their place with a Top 10 album contender
“Last
Knell of Om” CD//DD//LP track listing:-
1). Transmission
2). New Growth
3). We Answer
4). To Soil
5). Ruminations
6). Ephemera / Stare Through the Deep
The Review:
In a world
full of ever expanding realms of stoner and doom, it can be somewhat easy to
get lost in the mire of it all. Thus, it is a comfort to know that a band such
as Morag Tong
exist. Ironically, when I first became somewhat smitten with Morag Tongs
sound from the stupidly overlooked “Through
Clouded Time” EP of 2016, they lived up to their name (see video game The
Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind) acting as a secret entity operating from the
shadows, however it has become harder and harder over time for people to ignore
the existence and ever looming presence of this band as they have continued to
leave punters in awe at the sheer power embroiled within their sound.
The
procession of “Last Knell of Om”
begins with “Transmission”, an
instrumental instantly showcasing a rich and beautifully warm bass tone
(courtesy of bassist James Atha), acting as a gentle welcoming to the listeners
ears. This allows the drums to enter with ease all the meanwhile the guitars
are bleeding in to create a landscape making tasteful use of swirls in fuzz. A
song where many would falter for not knowing how to land it, Morag Tong
touch down gracefully without over egging the pudding as it were.
With
following track entitled “New Growth”,
we are introduced fairly early on to the vocals from drummer Adam Asquith, a
bellowing (and one of the better voices I have heard in a long time for this
genre) call to the skies above, juxtaposed against a dark heavy and simplistic
riff -all timed to perfection for the ultimate (bong) hit. The song builds and
builds, drawing the listener back to the well balanced, interesting bass guitar
riffing, drawing ever closer to the final riff and man oh man is it a riff
worth waiting for. In fact if anything, I would love to have heard that riff far
longer with some more lead work but it’s solid nonetheless.
The album
plays to the strengths of Morag Tongs sound, which is to harness the
core duo of well thought out bass lines and drums that are memorable, whilst
creating a landscape with the guitars, their tones and subtle lead work over
one another. The melodies captured by both guitarists (Alex Clarke and Lewis Crane respectively) invoke memorable, beautifully soul destroying melodies
that can have a somewhat emotional impact on the listener – whether it’s the
moment of looking to the sky and lamenting what life could have been if things
had been different (see – “We Answer”)
or gazing into the void at the hopeless mess that is mankind itself (“To Soil”). A drone of sorts is created
by these elements and no – not in the Sunn O))) way – a natural drone that doesn’t
overstay its welcome and acts as a soft blanket.
The album
has been recorded, mixed and mastered by Sam Thredder of Cros Nest studios and
what a fantastic job he has done. He has been the key to encapsulating what Morag Tong
sound like live, allowing the listener to become all consumed by the waves of
sound. Having seen Morag Tong live 5 times already over the past
year, this is something which I had hoped was going to be evident in the
presentation of the mix and master. Thankfully, this happy camper got his wish
granted. Warm, clear bass throughout the fuzziest of amp orgy inducing guitar
tones, clear definition of each limb of the drum kit and the perfect balance of
vocals within the mix, powerful yet not overbearing on the instrumental side of
affairs.
The
musicianship on “Last Knell of Om” is simply big, fantastic and mature. Morag Tong
excel in their subtleties, of guitar tones, bass tone and overall placing of
songs, for example one need only pay attention to the placing of album
concluder “Ephemera / Stare Through the
Deep” with its “Planet Caravan”-esque
ascending trip to the stars only to be dropped to earth again for opener “Transmission”. In essence this is to me
how “Last Knell of Om” plays out, a
journey that starts by allowing the listener to rise from the earth, then drift
through a swell of emotions, ascend to the astral plains and be stricken back
to this world, only for the process to repeat all over again as if caught in
the belly of the Ouroboros.
“Through Clouded Time” was a great introduction
to Morag
Tong and is still essential whilst you can grab a copy (which I
recommend), however “Last Knell of Om”
has already in a year choc full of essential new releases from legends such as Sleep
and Yob,
solidified its place as a top 10 contender for myself this year. This is the
most earthly, organic stoner doom band these ears have heard in a long time and
as one who can usually throw around other comparisons to what a band sound
like, I struggle to do this with Morag Tong. This - in my opinion, can only be
a good thing.
Catch them
on 16th May at The Black Heart in Camden with Wychound and Elephant Tree for
the album launch.
“Last Knell of Om” is available here
